Scott Parker: Tottenham ready to come out from under Arsenal's shadow

Scott Parker knows the North London derby is a massive game for Tottenham

Tottenham as a club have been living in the shadows of Arsenal a bit.

Scott Parker

Spurs warmed up for Sunday’s showdown with the Gunners at White Hart Lane by beating West Ham 3-2 to go third, thanks to Gareth Bale’s spectacular late winner.

If they beat Arsenal as well they can go seven points clear of their arch rivals as they bid to finish above them for the first time since 1995.

Parker said: “It’s a big game for us – we can push away a little bit. But if they beat us it goes to a point. Fourth spot isn’t over yet.

“It’s a focus and something we are aware of. We have worked very hard to get where we are and we can’t afford to fall away.

“Tottenham as a club have been living in the shadows of Arsenal a bit.

“Arsenal are still a top, top side but certainly we have narrowed the gap. We have players in our squad that Arsenal would want any day of the week.”

None more so than Bale, who has scored eight goals in his last six Spurs games and is the main reason they have now gone 11 matches unbeaten.

Tottenham’s only defeat In their last 14 league games came at Everton, who snatched a late winner. But since then it has been Spurs banging in late goals and Parker reckons that must be hugely dispiriting for their rivals.

He said: “Yeah, it’s deflating. I have been in that position watching the scores come up and in the last minute a goal comes up.

“You hope it’s the opposition but find out it’s the team you don’t want to score. I’m sure the Arsenal players have noted that.”

Parker is taking nothing for granted though, especially as a late collapse last term allowed Arsenal to push Spurs out of the Champions League reckoning.

He said: “If we win on Sunday you’d like to think third is secured, but last year proved that it’s not a given. Arsenal clawed it back. But a win puts us in a good position.”

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas reckons Bale should win Footballer of the Year after banging in 19 goals – many of them spectacular strikes.

Parker admits he is struggling to describe how good the Welsh wonder is.

He said: “Words can’t describe how well he is playing. He is scoring critical goals which make headlines.

“But we are helping. When you have world-class players, they step up.”